Fibermax (CT–407)
Fiber & Good Bacteria
Keeping the body’s systems in balance
Fiber is a thread-like structure that combines with other similar materials to create plant tissue. Fiber gives plants their shape. It is the part of food that is not digested, has no calories and the bulk it provides is very beneficial. In the body, fiber keeps things moving through the digestive tract providing bulk for stools. During this process it passes unscathed through many chemicals and enzymes in the gastrointestinal system.
There are two types of fiber. Soluble fiber becomes jelly-like and gluey in water while insoluble fiber does not change in water. Most vegetable and fruits have both types of fiber.
Fiber picks up and carries toxins harmlessly through the intestines and colon, where they are expelled. A lack of fiber can result in constipation. About 100 million Americans suffer from constipation, an uncomfortable and potentially health-threatening problem. Another main cause is age, as our bodies become less efficient in processing foods.
Fiber can help with: breast cancer, colectoral cancer, colitis, diabetes, diverticulitis, diverticulitis, excessive estrogen (fiber helps balance this good hormone), gallstones, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), menopausal symptoms, obesity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), varicose veins.
Quick benefit facts about soluble and insoluble fiber: improves digestion; helps cleanse and clear the digestive system; lowers blood pressure; lowers cholesterol; prevents colon and breast cancers; alleviates PMS and menopausal symptoms; keeps gallbladder healthy; prevents appendicitis; stabilizes blood sugars, promotes weight loss, and detoxifies your system.
Soluble fiber:
Lowers cholesterol.
Lowers blood pressure.
Stabilizes blood sugar levels.
Gives the good bacteria in your digestive tract a good medium to grow in.
May lessen the amount of time food is in the digestive tract.
Detoxifies.
Reduces the intake of fat, since, by increasing the volume of food, it helps you feel full.
Good sources of soluble fiber: Fruits (especially oranges, apricots, mangoes), vegetables (especially any of the following cooked: brussels sprouts, parsnips, turnips, peas, broccoli, onions and carrots) fresh okra, cereals (especially cooked or cold oat bran and uncooked oatmeal), legumes i.e. plants having seeds that grow in a pod (especially cooked butter nut beans, black beans, canned baked beans, navy beans, canned white or kidney beans and chickpeas), gums from nuts and oat bran.
Insoluble fiber:
Prevents constipation.
Provides bulk for feces (stool).
Lessens the amount of time food is in the digestive tract.
Transports toxins from the bowels, detoxifies.
Helps scrub clean the intestines.
Reduces fat intake by helping you feel full.
Good sources of insoluble fiber are: all vegetables, beans, whole grains such as wheat, barley, rye.
Insufficient fiber can cause the diverticula to malfunction. The diverticula are sacs opening out from the walls of the large intestines. Straining, or trying to force a movement, can cause fecal matter into these sacs, which in turn results in them becoming inflamed and enlarged, causing digestive matter to leak into the body.
The large intestine is full of waste matter and potentially harmful bacteria. This can cause abscesses and infections in the surrounding tissues. When the waste matter and bacterial byproducts get stuck in the diverticula, they ferment, rot, and become toxic to you and become an excellent breeding ground for parasites. All sorts of toxins and waste products can gather in these sacs. The result can be diverticulosis, uninflamed diverticula protruding from the intestines, or diverticulitis, which includes inflammation of these protruding sacs.
Reducing the amount of time food takes to go through your body is key to avoid problems such as these. The healthy average transit time is 12 to 24 hours in societies that eat fiber rich foods. In America, most people’s digestive systems hold foods between 45 to 65 hours. If you want to check your own digestive systems transit time, eat corn and watch for it to appear in your feces. Increase your daily fiber intake into the 30 to 35 gram range if you want to rid yourself of constipation and the resulting potential health problems.
Quick facts about constipation you should know
Over-the-counter remedies do not deal with the underlying problem of constipation; they alleviate the symptoms. Overuse of any laxatives can cause “lazy bowel” problems, acute, short-term bouts of constipation possibly becoming chronic, long-term conditions.
Constipation can be caused by any of the following: processed foods (especially those lacking fiber), pharmaceutical drugs (anti-histamines, anti-depressants, pain-killers, decongestants and tranquilizers), iron tablets, dairy products such as cheese, stress, change in hours awake, excessive alcohol, oral contraceptives, insufficient fiber, water, exercise or sleep. It may be the first sign of a magnesium deficiency.
Here are some ways you can deal with constipation: Drink more water, take four capsules of Fiber Max and Maxie Cleanser after meals and bedtime until the condition corrects, then cut down to one or two capsules as a maintenance dose.
Once the problem is resolved, make the following routine part of your daily life: Drink 8 to 10 cups of clean water daily; Consume 30 to 35 grams of fiber daily; Do 30 minutes of gentle exercise, such as walking, to help keep your digestive system and mind tuned up. Since emotional stress can be an underlying cause of constipation, practice relaxation techniques or meditation.
Excellent fiber rich foods include fruits, fresh or dried vegetables, barley, dried beans, brown rice, wheat bran, oats, rye, seeds, nuts and our all time favorite, popcorn – with a sprinkling of extra virgin olive or flax seed oil, please.
At Abunda Life our goal is to have four bowel movements a day; one upon arising, then a bowel movement from 15 to 45 minutes after each meal. Anything less than a bowel movement for each meal, is constipation.